Meet Some of Indonesia's Marine Aquarium Fishers

2024-05-16 02:49 PM - By Dr. Paul Anderson

Guest Author:  Raymond Jakub, Applied Science Director, Rare

The IndoReefFish Team gathers for a group photo with leaders and members of a marine aquarium fishing village and district fishery officers in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The Coral Reef Aquarium Fisheries Campaign was introduced to fishers, traders, and other stakeholders across Indonesia this Spring by its fisheries conservation NGO partners Rare and LINI in the launch of IndoReefFish.

This program aims to engage actors in Indonesia's marine aquarium trade to convene around comprehensive fisheries management that operates from a mindset of informed governance, supporting both ecological and human well-being.  This fishery and its actors will be introduced to public aquariums and zoos around the world by the John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago's world-class public aquarium, to showcase a model that links them to the reefs that they exhibit, and the people whose livelihoods depend on those reefs.  This program is sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and enjoys and the support of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and marine aquarium fishery businesses, associations, and agencies across Indonesia.
Google Earth

Rare's Raymond Jakub and Haris Setiawan connected Campaign Founder Paul Anderson with Rare's Fish Forever staff and fisheries officers of the Southeast Sulawesi district as, together, they embarked on an adventure of airplanes, ferries, and fishing boats to reach the remote and beautiful region of Talaga Raya, a Managed Access with Reserves that Rare has cultivated in cooperation with the region's communities and district fisheries agencies.

Rare's Raymond Jakub (center) and Haris Setiawan (right) accompany The Campaign's Paul Anderson (left) as they board a 6-hour ferry from Kendari to Bau Bau in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Photo by R. Jakub/Rare.

Once the boat finally arrived on shore of the fishing village in Talaga Raya, the IndoReefFish Team was warmly greeted by the community with snacks and delicious hot coffee. It was a hot and humid day, but somehow, the coffee hit the spot!


The village has a central hall for functions, where the IndoReefFish Team gathered to meet with fishers, the Head of the village, district fisheries officers, and the sole buyer of aquarium fish for the village.

The fishers described their day-in-the-life: They typically operate individually--one man, one boat, one compressor--from 7am-2pm.  Though without additional crew on-board, the fishers usually fish on the same reef, so that their boats anchor side-by-side.  Fishers bring with them a basket, scoop net, compressor, snorkel gear, and a battery-powered aerator. 

Village fishers consult a Fish ID guide to identify aquarium fishes found on their coral reefs.

The IndoReefFish team was surprised to learn that the fishers concentrate their fishing effort on just three species: 

  • Blue hippo tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
  • Common clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
  • Majestic angelfish (Pomacanthus navarchus)
The Blue hippo tang (Paracanthurus hepatus), or "Letter Six" as it is known by Indonesian fishers, is a hot commodity in the Indonesian marine aquarium fishery. Photo by N. Rupert (CC).

This is because the village's remote location means that the fish sold there have higher price tags associated with them down the value-chain due to shipping and transportation costs.  So other, lower-value fish that may be locally abundant are not preferred by their buyers, which can be sourced closer to their businesses with less risk of mortality across shorter shipping routes.


One of the goals of IndoReefFish will be to identify alternative fish species that may be both desirable in the market and resilient to fishing pressure; to support the livelihoods of fishers their families and to relieve heavy fishing pressure on the current species targeted.


Upon learning about the IndoReefFish program and its aims to develop sustainable fisheries practices and support the livelihoods of the village's fishers; the community became excited about participating in this effort that will also bring them to the stage of a model program to be showcased throughout the nation and around the world.


Stay tuned for more IndoReefFish adventures in Indonesia! 

Dr. Paul Anderson

Dr. Paul Anderson

Director, The Coral Reef Aquarium Fisheries Campaign
https://www.aquariumfisheries.com/

Dr. Anderson has co-managed $2.3M in grants, contracts, & scholarships, authored 30 scientific & popular publications, delivered over 300 presentations to global audiences of all ages, & developed 11 exhibits. His work has been featured in multiple international national news & media outlets.